Frost/Freeze Information for the Area

The fall season is underway across the area and it's the time of year when the possibility for frost and freezing temperatures at night return. Typically, frost can occur when the temperature falls below 36°F, especially in rural areas. It is a localized phenomena and can be quite variable across a small area. While the National Weather Service does not keep track of "frost" in observations per se, we do keep track of when temperatures hit the freezing mark or fall below. Frost becomes more widespread when the temperature falls below 32°F with some freeze possible. A hard freeze is possible when temperatures fall below 28°F. The maps below, courtesy of the Midwestern Regional Climate Center, show the average dates for the first freeze and hard freeze of the fall. Click on the images for a larger resolution.

Freeze Information for the Local Area

The table below shows the normal first, earliest first, and latest first date of temperatures at or below 32°F for the fall season at locations across the area.

Location

Normal First Date*

Earliest Date

Latest Date

Record Period

Benton Harbor

October 8

September 13 (1985)

November 26 (1890)

1890-present

Defiance, OH

October 18

October 1 (2009)

November 8 (2004)

1998-present

Fort Wayne

October 13

September 23 (1995, 1974, 1967)

November 24 (1931)

1912-present

Goshen, IN

October 12

October 1 (2009)

October 26 (2005)

1997-present

Lima, OH

October 15

October 1 (2009)

November 8 (2005)

1998-present

South Bend

October 17

September 21 (1897)

November 11 (1985)

1893-present

*Normals are computed for the 30 year period of 1981 to 2010.

The table below shows the normal first, earliest first, and latest first date of temperatures at or below 28°F for the fall season at locations across the area.

Location

Normal First Date*

Earliest Date

Latest Date

Record Period

Benton Harbor

October 24

September 24 (1989)

December 4 (1899)

1890-present

Defiance, OH

October 30

October 14 (2002)

November 9 (2004)

1998-present

Fort Wayne

October 28

October 3 (1974)

November 25 (1931)

1912-present

Goshen, IN

October 20

October 2 (2003)

November 2 (2007)

1997-present

Lima, OH

October 29

October 14 (2002)

November 9 (2004)

1998-present

South Bend

November 3

October 2 (1908)

November 26 (1902)

1893-present

*Normals are computed for the 30 year period of 1981 to 2010.

Dates of First 32°F and 28°F Freeze This Fall

Click on the maps below to go to the most recent versions of the data from Midwestern Regional Climate Center.